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SammyN
distinguished member (276)distinguished memberdistinguished memberdistinguished member
  
01/17/2020 12:53PM   (Thread Older Than 3 Years)
My kids have graduated from the Snoopy rod, and for two years, have been fishing with the smaller Shakespeare spincast combos. They have actually been pretty good. Looking to finally upgrade to a fullsize rod/reel combo.

I grew up on a Zebco 33, but current reviews on them is that that they are junk.

Does anyone have any spincast recommendations?

Or, should I skip the spincast and go right to a spinning rod? If so, any recommendations?

I don't want to spend a lot on them because we are talking about 5 & 7 year olds.

Thoughts?
 
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thegildedgopher
distinguished member(1659)distinguished memberdistinguished memberdistinguished memberdistinguished member
  
01/17/2020 01:11PM  
You won't find many people who say anything positive about spincast reels but dang, I caught a heap of fish on zebcos when I was a kid. There are very few offered anymore and it seems they cost more than they should for the quality you get. The Daiwa Goldcast is supposed to be a decent spincast reel but they go for about $50 a pop. That seems silly when you can buy a Shimano Sienna spinning reel for $25-30.

They make a Sienna spinning combo that's about $50, but I think it's a 6.5 foot rod which is a lot for a 5yo.

You might wanna check out the Ugly Stik youth sized GX2 combo. About $40, 5.5 foot rod.
 
SammyN
distinguished member (276)distinguished memberdistinguished memberdistinguished member
  
01/17/2020 01:45PM  
"Ugly Stik youth sized GX2 combo"

That's currently what I'm leaning towards.

Thanks!
 
01/17/2020 02:00PM  
thegildedgopher: "
You might wanna check out the Ugly Stik youth sized GX2 combo. About $40, 5.5 foot rod."


+1

All my kids have transitioned to the Ugly Stik GX2 after moving up from the snoopy rod. I even had one of their reels repaired for the cost of shipping. GX2 is the most popular rod in my arsenal.

As long as we are on the subject, I will just link this video.
 
PowerLizard
senior member (70)senior membersenior member
  
01/17/2020 02:42PM  
Look at the Zebco Delta and Zebco Omega reels. The spools oscilate like a spinning reel to get the line to lay up evenly on the spool. I bought one for my son years ago and he still loves it. They are available with rods sold as a combo or just the reel alone.
 
old_salt
distinguished member(2547)distinguished memberdistinguished memberdistinguished memberdistinguished member
  
01/17/2020 03:18PM  
I agree with the Ugly Stik recommendations. I suggest a smaller to medium-sized spinning reel, balanced to the rod. My kids and grandkids all learned on spinning gear.
 
Savage Voyageur
distinguished member(14414)distinguished memberdistinguished memberdistinguished memberdistinguished membermaster membermaster member
  
01/17/2020 11:58PM  
Your kids will figure out a spinning reel just fine. I would get an ugly stick and a Shimano reel. Take them out to a park and practice with a weight. Then after a couple of times they will be and expert.
 
Zwater
distinguished member(570)distinguished memberdistinguished memberdistinguished memberdistinguished member
  
01/18/2020 11:28AM  
SammyN: ""Ugly Stik youth sized GX2 combo"

That's currently what I'm leaning towards.

Thanks!"

+1
 
HowardSprague
distinguished member(3419)distinguished memberdistinguished memberdistinguished memberdistinguished member
  
01/18/2020 10:18PM  
My daughter is 11. A couple years ago I got her a zebco 33 combo (with pretty pink metallic trim, no less!) and it’s been fine and she’s still using it. Your kids would do fine with it.

Daiwa Goldcasts are good reels. I’ve had one for 20 years and it’s been reliable. 12# northern from a Grumman, no prob. You could probably find one on eBay if price is an issue. But they are good reels.
 
SammyN
distinguished member (276)distinguished memberdistinguished memberdistinguished member
  
01/19/2020 08:07AM  
Savage Voyageur: "Your kids will figure out a spinning reel just fine. I would get an ugly stick and a Shimano reel. Take them out to a park and practice with a weight. Then after a couple of times they will be and expert. "


What model of shimano would you recommend? It looks like this elcheapo has good reviews
https://www.cabelas.com/product/SHIMANO-IX-SPIN/3057609.uts?slotId=0

Plus, it has the quick fire, which would probably help them with casting.
 
old_salt
distinguished member(2547)distinguished memberdistinguished memberdistinguished memberdistinguished member
  
01/19/2020 09:37AM  
I also like and use Shimano reels. I suggest stepping up to the Syncopate. These reels have reverseable handles. Be sure it’s set to their preference.
 
Aries
senior member (53)senior membersenior member
  
01/19/2020 03:28PM  
I'd most definitely recommend a spinning reel over a spincast reel every time. I swap my ice fishing reels back and forth between my ice rods and my kids poles.
 
01/21/2020 12:14PM  
For a spincast, I like the Omega Z03 and an Ugly stik or a pro-lite ugly stik.
 
thegildedgopher
distinguished member(1659)distinguished memberdistinguished memberdistinguished memberdistinguished member
  
01/21/2020 02:10PM  
SammyN: "What model of shimano would you recommend? It looks like this elcheapo has good reviews
https://www.cabelas.com/product/SHIMANO-IX-SPIN/3057609.uts?slotId=0
Plus, it has the quick fire, which would probably help them with casting."


old_salt: "I also like and use Shimano reels. I suggest stepping up to the Syncopate. These reels have reverseable handles. Be sure it’s set to their preference."



As the owner of a Syncopate I would not recommend it. The "quickfire" thing was not my cup of tea at all, or my kid's. It's still a timing thing, they either need to pull that little plastic trigger at the right time, or let go of the line at the right time using a standard spinning reel. I'd skip the trigger. Also my syncopate does not have INSTANT anti-reverse which I consider a must-have -- especially for kids. It has anti-reverse, but it's a long ways from instant, quite a bit of play there. You have to be sure to back-reel to be sure the spool is tight before setting the hook. It's just another thing to go wrong in my opinion.

I would strongly recommend starting with a Shimano Sienna in the $25-$30 price range if you're going to buy the reel separately.
 
01/21/2020 11:24PM  
SammyN: ""Ugly Stik youth sized GX2 combo"


That's currently what I'm leaning towards.


Thanks!"

+2 or +3 or whatever we're up to. This is the combo that my boys moved up to and I've been very happy. As we all know kids that are learning to cast and fish can be pretty hard on gear, our combos have spent several weeks in the BW getting banged around and have held up perfectly.
 
Abbey
distinguished member (278)distinguished memberdistinguished memberdistinguished member
  
01/31/2020 07:56PM  
I bought the Pflueger president spincast for my older kid, who was 7yo last year when we upgraded him from a Spider-Man pole (longer than snoopy pole). Put it on an old Ugly Stick that I already had. He didn’t like the spinning reels, but I convinced him to try this one, and it is a bridge to the casting geometry of a spinning reel. The price was more than I wanted to pay for what it is, but it was the right thing for my kiddo. Gave him a #3 Mepps, and he crushed the 10” SMB on Daniels....

 
CRL
senior member (85)senior membersenior member
  
03/06/2020 06:29AM  
How have the reels (Ugly Stik GX2 combo) been--workable or kind of cruddy? I've read some reviews and checked some out at Fleet Farm. Rods seemed decent, reels maybe ok. Have they worked well for those that have used them for some time
?
 
mgraber
distinguished member(1486)distinguished memberdistinguished memberdistinguished memberdistinguished member
  
03/06/2020 01:18PM  
thegildedgopher: "
SammyN: "What model of shimano would you recommend? It looks like this elcheapo has good reviews
https://www.cabelas.com/product/SHIMANO-IX-SPIN/3057609.uts?slotId=0
Plus, it has the quick fire, which would probably help them with casting."



old_salt: "I also like and use Shimano reels. I suggest stepping up to the Syncopate. These reels have reverseable handles. Be sure it’s set to their preference."




As the owner of a Syncopate I would not recommend it. The "quickfire" thing was not my cup of tea at all, or my kid's. It's still a timing thing, they either need to pull that little plastic trigger at the right time, or let go of the line at the right time using a standard spinning reel. I'd skip the trigger. Also my syncopate does not have INSTANT anti-reverse which I consider a must-have -- especially for kids. It has anti-reverse, but it's a long ways from instant, quite a bit of play there. You have to be sure to back-reel to be sure the spool is tight before setting the hook. It's just another thing to go wrong in my opinion.


I would strongly recommend starting with a Shimano Sienna in the $25-$30 price range if you're going to buy the reel separately."



My kids LOVED the trigger. You do not "pull it at the right time", You pick up the line and pull the trigger with the line between the trigger and your finger which holds the line. Release whenever you want, worked perfect every cast for many, many, many thousands of casts. I would probably have one if they offered it on the reels I use, makes for ultra precise casts. You line it up by reeling backwards to the stop and it is perfectly lined up. It saves time and gives you more casts per day, but you don't have instant anti reverse.
 
flytyer
distinguished member (220)distinguished memberdistinguished memberdistinguished member
  
03/06/2020 01:20PM  
CRL: "How have the reels (Ugly Stik GX2 combo) been--workable or kind of cruddy? I've read some reviews and checked some out at Fleet Farm. Rods seemed decent, reels maybe ok. Have they worked well for those that have used them for some time
?
"


My grandkids started with the Ugly Stik combos, spincast and spinning, comes with reel, small tackle tray and lures for about $30. I replaced the line. They learned well and the rods and reels are still working well after 8 years.
 
elpirkl
member (14)member
  
03/10/2020 11:00AM  
What works best for me and the kiddos...
Go shopping for a new rod and reel
Wife says, "Don't you have enough already? Why are spending more money on a fishin' pole?"
I say, "The kids go fishing too and they use the rods I already have"
"Oh, Ok" says the wife, thinking what a great dad I am for taking the kids fishing.
Everyone is happy. I get a new rod/reel, wife has a great husband and the kids get to go out on the boat.
 
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